Process of and apparatus for making axles



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W. J. PARMEL'EE. PROGESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AXLBS.

No. 454,685. Patented June 23,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.`

VOLCOTT J. PARMELEE, OF VILKES-BARR, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AXLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,685, dated .T une23, 1891.

Application filed April 22, 1891. Serial No. 390,002. (No model.)

To a/ZZ zuwm, t may concern,.-

Be itknown that I, WoLcorr J. PARMELEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at lVilkes-Barr, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Process of and Apparatusfor Making Axles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relat-es to an improvement in processes of and apparatusfor forging axles; and it has for its object to provide for the simpleand easy manufacture of vehicle-axles from a single blank of Inetal,providing the saine with both spindles and integral I'laps, which formthe rest for the springs of the ordinary platform spring-wagons, beingdesigned to take the place of the wooden aps used on axles and itconsists of a flap-axle and -a simple method of and apparatus forforming said flaps from a blank bar of metal used in conjunction withthe process of and apparatus for forging the spindles and axle-collarspatented by me June 17, 1890, No. 430,541, all of which is hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional viewof a portion of a machine provided with my dies for forming the iiaps,and the axle-blank being inserted between the dies and the follower orplunger about entering the end of the same. Fig. 2 is a cross-section ofthe flap-forming dies closed. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of oneof the die-sections with a portion of an upset axle Itherein. Fig. 4 isa detail in perspective of the fullering-die and fullered axle. Fig. 5is a similar View of the nap-finishing die and a portion of the axlewith a completed iiap. Fig. 6 is-a longitudinal sectional view of aportion of a machinev provided with my patented spindle andcollar-forming apparatus with a flapped axle between the dies. Fig. 7 isa detail in perspective of the outer end of the supporting-bracket andadjustable stops. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the completed axle.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 designates the bedof a suitable machine, upon which is placed my improved fiap-formingdies 2 2, provided on their meeting faces with interlocking pins andholes 3 and 4. Dies 2 are further provided with angular grooves 5, whichwhen placed together form a squared opening through which the axle-blankis designed to be placed. Asemi-rounded and angular recess 6 is formedin one of the faces of said angular grooves Within each die-section,directly over which recess and in the` same plane therewith the dies arealso provided withy a cut-out portion 7. In the same line with saidcut-out portion and groove, but extending up from the opposite face ofthe angle-groove, is a beveled elevation 8, that is adapted to take intothe cut-out portion of thc opposing die when the ltwo die-sections areplaced together, thus forming a central squared axle-opening andrecesses to either side, into which the axleblank is designed to beupset and form the iiaps 8X, referred to.

The axle-blank having been placed within the aforesaid flap-die, whichis kept closed in the ordinary manner, the follower or plunger 9,operated by suitable mechanism, enters one end of said die and upsetsthe metal previously heated into the Hap-forming recesses, as is shown.The axle-blank is supported upon the bracket-arm 10, that extends youtfrom beneath the bedof the forging-machine l, and is provided at its endwith an upturned stop l1, against which abuts the free end of theaxle-blank. A slot 12 is also formed in the end of said bracket-arm thatis adapted to receive the adjustable stops 13 and 14, which are designedto accommodate the loss of length of the axle-blank in the upsettingofthe same. The blank on coming from the flap-dies is put into a press ordrop and subjected to the action of the fullering-die l5, that fullersthe flap on each side, as shown at 16, a sufficient depth to secure thecorrect width of the flap. The fullering-die l5 is provided with asquared recess 17, of a width to take over the square axle-blank, andwith receding beveled sides 18, that form an edge 19 with the walls ofsaid squared recess, said edge being adapted to bear into the flaps SX,that are of the Width of the axle-blank after coming from the dies, andfuller the same, as already described. After removing the blank from thefullering-die the same is placed in the hammer or drop and subjected tothe fin- ICO ishing-die 20, that reduces the flap to its iinished shape,as shown at 2l. Die 2O is also provided with a squared recess 22, thatis designed to take over the square axle-blank and press the materialintoits proper shape. The meeting faces of the finishing-die areslightly beveled at 23, but inwardly toward the central squared recess,the ends of the walls of the salne having smooth rounded corners 24E,that together with said beveled faces iinish the iiaps symmetrically andsmooth and in the shape in which they are ordinarily constructed. rI heflaps being now completed, the bar is placed in dies in a hammer or dropand all surplus is trimmed from the same, and is left in any shapedesired. The ends of the blank are now rolled into a cylindrical shape,and the same is finally placed within the collar-and-spindle-formingapparatus 25, previously referred to, and in which the collar is formedbetween a die and die-plunger,

with a central iiash between the outer and inner shoulders of the same,which flash when removed completes the axle, the bar of metal beingsupported andheld within the dies by the bracket-arm and stops used inconjunction with the flap-dies also. A reversion of this process couldbe practiced, though not preferred, in which the collar and spindleswere formed first and the aps subsequently.

Both ends of the axle are treated in identically the same manner, andwhen completed form an axle 26, constructed of asingle piece of metaland provided with the integral flaps 27 and collars and spindles 28.

'Ihe operation of my process and apparatus is thought to be clear fromthe foregoing description.

The axle-blank, having been heated to a forging heat at one end, is adjusted between two long die-sections, the cold end being suitablysupported and secured against endwise displacement. A plunger orfollower entering one end of said die, the metal is upset intoflap-forming cavities within said die and completes the first stage ofthe operation. The blank, with the ap of the same thickness as the baritself, is then removed to a press or drop and through dies fullered oneach side to reduce the thickness of the flap directly on either side ofthe axle to the requisite width, and preparatory to placing the blank inthis condition again in a hammer and drop provided with a finishing-diethat presses out all surplus metal and adapts the iiap to its shape,completing the forging of the same and leaving it in the desired shape.The axleblank,with the completed flap, is now trimmed of all superfluousmetal and left in any shape desired by submitting it to the action ofsuitable dies in the hammer or drop, after which the ends of the sameare rolled to a cylindrical shape and finally upset in dies to form thespindles and axle-collars, as before set forth. rlfhis axle may also beforged in parts to the shapes described and afterward welded togetherwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In the manufacture of axles, the process of forming the flap on theaxle, consisting 1n subjecting the axle-blank, which has been heated toa suitable degree, to endwise pressure between the die-sections thatform on the axle the lateral wings called the flap, substantially as setforth.

2. In the manufacture of axles, the process of forming the flap on Ltheaxle, consisting in subjecting the axle-blank, which has been heated toa suitable degree, to endwise pressure between die-sections that formthe lateral projections constituting the iiap,and then placing the samein a press or drop and fullering at each side of the bar, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In the manufacture of axles, the process of forming the iiap on axle,consisting in subjectin g the axle-blank, which has been heated to asuitable degree, to endwise pressure between die-sections that form thelateral projections constituting the flap, then placing the same in apress or drop and fullering at each side of the bar, and linally placingin a hammer or drop and subjecting it to the action of finishing-dies,substantially as set forth.

1i. In the manufacture of axles, the process of forming an axle providedwith collars and flaps from a single blank, consisting in placing theaxle-blank, which has been heated to a suitable degree, betweendie-sections that form the lateral wings constituting the flap, andsubjecting the same to endwise pressure by the action of a follower orplunger entering one end of the dies and upsetting the metal, thenplacing in a press or drop and fullered at each side by the action offullering-dies, then subjecting to the action of the flap-iinishing diesin a hammer or drop, then trimming all surplus metal and put in the desired shape by being placedV in trimming and shaping dies in hammer ordrop, and in finally rolling at the end between rolling-dies andupsetting to form the collarof the axle, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for forming the flaps on axles, a follower `orplunger and die-sections provided in their meeting faces with angulargrooves,'and flap-forming recesses formed in one of the faces of saidangular grooves, substantially as set forth.

G. In an apparatus for forming the flaps on axles, a follower or plungerand die-sections provided with angular grooves on their meeting faces,semi-round or angular cavities or recesses formed in one of the faces ofsaid ICO IIO

angular grooves, cut-out portions directly ing up from the face of theangle-grooves opposite said recesses and on the opposite side of saiddie-sections, being adapted to take into the cut-out portion of theopposing diesection and inclose the open side of saidv cavity formingflap-forming chambers on opposite sides of the die, substantially as setforth.

7. In an apparatus for forming the flaps on axles, die-sections providedon their meeting faces with angular grooves, and flap-forming recessesformed in one of the faces of said angular grooves, a follower orplunger adapted to enter one end of said die, and a fulleringdieprovided with a central squared recess and -beveled sides receding fromthe open ends of said recess, substantially as set forth.

8. In au apparatus for forming the Haps on axles, die-sections providedon their meeting faces with angular grooves, and flap-forming recessesformed in one of the faces of said angular grooves, a follower orplunger adapted to enter one end of said die, a fullering-die `providedwith a central squared recess and beveled sides receding from the openends of said recess, and a finishing-die provided with a central`squared recess and beveled sides inwardly inclined toward the walls ofsaid recess and meeting the same in rounded corners, substantially7 asset forth.

9. In an apparatus for forming the flaps on axles, a follower orplunger, and die-sections provided with angular 'grooves on theirmeeting faces, semi-rounded or angular cavities or recesses formed inone of the faces of said angular grooves, cut-out portions directly v ofsaid die-sections, being adapted to take 4e into the cut-ont portion ofthe opposing diesection and inclose the open side ofsaid caw ity formingflap-forming chambers on opposite sides of the die, a fullering-dieprovided with a central squared recess and beveled sides receding fromthe open ends of said recess, and a finishing-die provided with acentral squared recess and beveled sides inwardly inclined toward theWalls of said recess and meeting the same in rounded corners,substantially as set forth.

10. In an apparatus for making a flap vehicle-axle provided Withintegral collar and spindle, the combination, with axle-collar andspindle-forming dies, of an aXle-blank-supporting bracket withadjustable stops, diesections provided with angular grooves and-recesses forming the Iiaps on the axle-blank,

a follower or plunger adapted to enter one end of said flap-formingdies, and a fulleringdie and a Hap-finishing die, combined substantiallyas set forth.

ll. As an article of manufacture, avehicleaXle formed out of a singleblank of metal provided With integral flaps, collars, and spindles,substantially as herein described.

12. The fullering-die provided with a central squared recess and beveledsides reced- Ying from theopen ends of said recess, as set forth.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WOLCOTT J. PARMELEE.

IVitnesses: I

BEN C. PRICE, JNO. T. MORGAN.

